Postcards from China (Julie Foudy)

NewsJan 24, 2002

Every several days, a player from the U.S. Women's National Team has sent out an e-postcard from Guangzhou, China, where the U.S. team is playing in the Four Nations Women's Tournament featuring the USA, China, Norway and Germany. The USA faces Germany on Friday, January 25 at Yingdong Stadium in Panyu in its second match of the tournament.

I wish I could report back to all of you about all the exotic places I've visited outside of the hotel, however, I've only mustered the courage once this entire trip to venture outside voluntarily. Seeing as it's my sixth time in China, I figure I have some type of poor excuse for not experiencing the local culture.

Because I cannot report on activities outside, I will fill you in what's happening in the hotel hallways. Kate Sobrero has not gotten off her bed in 10 days. Jena Kluegel is still aglow with the arrival of the snack trunk. I don't think it's been out of arms reach yet. She spent two hours staring at it today. Kristine Lilly is now French braiding her own hair and professing to have a future as a hair stylist. Youngsters like LeKeysia Beene and Aly Wagner are flexing their brain muscles by watching such intellectual flicks as "Bring It On" (a movie about a cheerleader feud), and "Dude, Where's My Car?" Other youngsters are claiming to spend hours studying and reading required chapters, however, upon inquiries from the older players, it seems Danielle Slaton is the only one without a comic book wedged in her text book. You would think she went to Stanford. Aleisha Cramer has really been hitting the weight room, as her extra-small shirts are not fitting anymore.

I cannot finish this postcard without giving props to Super Dad Walter Fawcett, who is the team nanny for Joy's (and his) kids on this trip and our in-house technical support guru for our laptops. After five days of fooling with my laptop and not being able to get online, he finally conquered AOL.

We play Germany tomorrow and must win to stay alive in the tournament so please send good vibes our way and hopefully we will be reporting back with a victory.

Lastly, a huge congrats to my roommate Kylie Bivens on getting her first cap with the full national team.

Take Care,Julie

Julie Foudy has played 204 times for the United States, scoring 39 goals. She has been a starter on all five U.S. teams to compete in world championships and is the captain of the USA as well as her club, the San Diego Spirit.